Wednesday, November 26, 2008

When you're an aspiring writer your main goal is to get published. You slave over a manuscript, polish, it up, and send it out. I spent many years this way.

Then one day you get published and you're thrilled beyond belief. But I've discovered what they say is true. The work has only just begun... Not just going through edits but launching a web site and doing promotion, promotion, promotion. Oh, and try to fit in writing a brand new book in the midst of all that. Plus your other responsibilities. You know, real life stuff. Like jobs and family.

I'm not complaining! This is my calling. If I had the energy, I'd immerse myself in it 24 hours a day. As technology increases, there are more and more opportunities to promote. They feel as infinite as the universe. I can't do everything or I'd never get it all done. I have to pick and choose.

And I have to write that next book before my characters go bonkers with impatience. After all, with no more books I'd have nothing to promote, would I? Today I attacked dust bunnies because they were bigger than the dog and getting really scary. I also wrote a chapter. Promotion? Zip. Must hit that again tomorrow.

So I'll have to decide whether to do separate promotion and writing "days" or devote a certain number or hours to each. I have to decide how big I'm going to let the dust bunnies get before I blast them. In other words, I've got to find balance...

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Now that my first book is out I'm starting on another, and it's going to be a menage! Which got me wondering, why is the idea of a menage a trois so popular? Novels are driven by conflict, and the menage relationship introduces a whole built-in set of conflicts such as jealousy. More people in the relationship means more interesting conflict, not to mention hot passion x 3.

Menage can take many different forms. The 3 people can meet for the first time or one person can be added to an existing relationship of 2. The existing relationship could be m/m or m/f. There are so many possibilities, it's like rolling the dice...

...Which brings me to Madison Blake's latest release, Playing for Real, which was released the same day as my book. This story features a woman with two sexy male friends in a relationship which just might have room for her too.

Shelli can never have foreseen how one revised board game is going to change her life forever.

It all begins when she prepares to attend her company’s annual dinner and dance party with her best friends, Adrian and Ethan, but she gets more than she bargains for when lust hits her right between the eyes the moment she catches them in flagrante delicto. She is so shocked she denies the attraction and thinks herself a voyeur, then is totally thrown out of her depth when she is tormented by fantasies of threesomes. But how can she risk their long-time friendship for sex?

Adrian and Ethan are happy as a couple, but they want Shelli too. After several failed seduction maneuvers, they decide to give it one last try by seducing her with an erotic board game especially designed to set them all afire.

Reader advisory: This book contains scenes with same-gender sex.

Following are 2 excerpts. The second one is adult/explicit.

Excerpt 1:

After asking for directions from hotel staff, they stood at the entrance of the Pearl Ballroom, the biggest ballroom in the hotel. It was bedecked with multicolored strings of crêpe paper hanging from the ceiling with a flashing disco ball right in the center and a huge glittering banner announcing the company’s name and event at the opposite end of the room. The entire room was noisy with conversation and laughter, and the lights reflected off sparkling jewels and sequins on the women’s gowns.

Adrian was stunned at the crush of bodies inside the room—there didn’t seem to be enough space left to breathe. The logistics committee didn’t seem to have done their job very well. Having gone to more than his share of company events, he realized that Shelli’s company must have invited their suppliers and valued customers as well as their staff, and the numbers had gone out of control. He was just wondering, if maybe, they should go home and watch National Geographic instead, when several people right in front of them shrieked with laughter and pointed above their heads. “Kiss, kiss, kiss!”

He looked straight up and, lo and behold. Mistletoe. Bunches of it decorating the whole doorframe, an unexpected trap for the unwary. He stared at them, nonplussed and wondered why there should be mistletoe. Someone’s idea of a bad joke, or an innovative ice breaker to get everyone in the party mood.

“Oh,” Shelli glanced first at her colleagues, then up at the mistletoe, dismayed, then spread her hands helplessly, “but they’re my—”

The distress on her face registered in his mind simultaneously with one other thing. If she admitted they were only friends, then all was lost. He and Ethan might as well have not come. He spun her toward him before she could complete her sentence. “Give in gracefully, Shell,” he said, laughing, playacting for the benefit of their audience. “It’s tradition.” He slid his hands from her shoulders up to cup her head and brought her inexorably closer. Her head, her entire body strained away from him and her eyes communicated mute panic. “You stupid fool,” he hissed near her mouth, willing her to relax, to trust him. “Don’t give the game away, not when we’ve come this far. And it’s just a kiss. We might have to play it up to make it look real…”

His lips brushed hers, once, twice. He had meant for it to end there but her lips were so soft, so sweet, so intoxicating, he just had to taste them again. He was drawn in and unable to pull himself away. He forgot that they had an audience. He forgot that he’d suggested for them to work at making the kiss look real, because it was suddenly all too real…

He pressed his mouth more fully against hers and nibbled and licked and begged for a taste of the rich flavors he was sure she was keeping from him in her mouth.

He wanted in.

Excerpt 2 (Adult):

“She’s been at it since three this afternoon,” Adrian pointed out. “It’s no surprise if she reaches the finish line first.”

“I know, still…” Their eyes met in the mirror and there must have been something in his eyes because Adrian turned around and they were face to face.

Helplessly, Ethan took the necessary step to bring them within an inch of each other. His breath caught at the intensity in his lover’s eyes, now that he was looking into them directly. His head reached across the space between them.

“It’ll be over before you know it,” Adrian murmured, just before their lips merged. They tasted each other’s mouth with soft, licking kisses, before Ethan parted his lips and drew first Adrian’s upper, then lower, lip into his mouth and sucked on them. He forgot everything and buried his hands in Adrian’s hair to press him closer, moaning with need and desire, and in response, Adrian angled his head and they shared an open-mouthed kiss, tongues playing and chasing in the caverns of their mouths.

“Hmmm…” Gripped in his lust and never breaking their kiss, Ethan pulled Adrian’s shirt free of his pants, threw it over his lover’s head, then buried his fingers in his lover’s luxurious chest hair. Moments later, his lips replaced his fingers and his nose snaked a sizzling path down Adrian’s chest, ending when his tongue darted in and out over Adrian’s turgid nipple. Adrian groaned and gripped Ethan’s shoulders tightly when he sucked on the nipple and the sounds that Adrian released affected his groin directly, making his cock ache with furious longing. The hand gliding down his back did nothing to assuage the painful ache.

There was no one like Adrian. Ethan felt the same dizzying wonder as he had many times before, that this magnificent, breathtaking man loved him, lived with him and was willing to grow old with him—as both lover and friend. The amazing thing was that he’d known Adrian for years but never in his life had he imagined that their friendship would grow deeper by their becoming lovers. They’d shared a lot with each other when they were merely friends—hopes and dreams, joys, sorrows, ambitions—but as lovers, they’d opened up their entire souls and nothing was secret from the other.

Ethan unfastened Adrian’s trousers and lifted his head. “I want you, now, here, right this minute.” The trousers fell unheeded to the floor as Ethan cupped his hand over Adrian’s straining erection. “God, Adrian, I can’t wait anymore. I want to suck your cock, to ride you hard and fast—” His chest was so tight he couldn’t continue and he let his fingers do the talking. His hand wrapped around Adrian’s rigid cock and pumped with firm, deliberate strokes. Up, down. Up, down. Feeling Adrian growing longer and harder made him salivate. He wanted to take Adrian’s thick cock into his mouth, to feel his mouth engulfed by Adrian’s hot, pulsing rod.

Adrian’s green eyes were molten with desire as he stepped out of his trousers and maneuvered them toward the bed. Ethan never relinquished his hold on Adrian’s cock, he continued pumping and stroking as they shuffled toward the bed. Finally, Adrian was lying spread-eagled in the center of the mattress and he invited huskily, “Come, lover.”

Ethan took a moment to shrug out of his clothes, as they constricted his movements. He knelt in between Adrian’s legs and lowered his head to rub his lover’s stiff cock on his cheek, enjoying the heated, silky sensation of Adrian’s cock against his skin and heightening the sense of anticipation and sexual tension that hovered between them.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Neither have I. A year ago I wouldn't have even known what an incubus was. But due to my diligent study of fairy mythology, I not only know what they are, I'd love to meet one! A gorgeous man to visit me in my dreams and fill me with passion. Of course, there's that pesky risk of being drained, but life without risk is just plain boring.

I may never meet one, but I can read about them in Elyssa Edwards' new book. The beautiful cover alone entices me to step into that fascinating world.

This is the final book of the Jewels of Ursus trilogy that began with Mating Stone and Lovers' Stone. It was released yesterday by Ellora's Cave (like my book!)

He is physical perfection. He is sex personified. He is an incubus. All his life Tarris has followed the rules that would keep him from transforming into the dark soulless predator who fed on the sexual energies of women, draining them to madness or to death. But now that he can no longer feed in a safe and controlled way, he faces a choice: hunt or starve. Callista is quiet and reserved. Her restrained exterior hides an astonishing passion and vivid imagination that has captured him. Who knew that a creature that had no soul could love a woman so deeply? Tarris must now find a way to control the change he feels coming and defeat the hunter who pursues him, obsessed with possessing Callista and destroying the incubus.

Excerpt:

Rule 1. Never feed alone.Rule 2. Never touch unless you are invited to by the female.Rule 3. Never penetrate a woman in the place reserved for her mate.Rule 4. Never allow the act to bring you to orgasm.Rule 5. Never, never must you hunt.

The rules had been created to keep him contained. To keep Tarris fed and happy while stopping him from crossing the line that could make him want more than he could be allowed to have.

Sitting in his chair he watched the flames flicker. He slipped his hand into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out the small oblong stone. It looked like an opal but over one third of its surface was black and dull. He rubbed at it seeking the strange sense of comfort it had always brought him. Tonight it didn’t work. Despite the fire, a chill passed through him. The rules. How he hated the rules. How he needed the rules. He’d only broken one and only once. He’d allowed sweet Sarah to pleasure him in a dream the three had shared before their mating. It had been a mistake. Now he knew what he was missing. And he wanted more.

Worse, he could no longer feed off his lovers. Both Weres were mated. No one had realized at the time that it would stop their ability to share their pleasure with him. But it had. He could enter their dreams but in their dreams the men would push him away. He’d learned this the moment Mark mated with Sarah. The animal within him refused to allow him near his mate. In the waking world Mark had been devastated. In the land of dreams he could not stop himself from turning on Tarris like an enemy. Tarris had not approached Luke. The younger twin had always been the more sexually assertive, the more likely to react to his instincts. He was certain Luke’s reaction would be even stronger than Mark’s.

Tarris closed his eyes. He tried to remember a time when he was satisfied with the lot he’d been given, satisfied with the role of puppeteer, satisfied to orchestrate the pleasures of others and to drink in their joy and satisfaction. It seemed so long ago.

He’d not actively decided to break the rules. He’d let them terminate him before he’d turn into one of the dark ones. He may not have a soul but one thing living in the Ursine house had given him had been honor. He knew the clean and lighter side of living. He’d not become a monster.

Jon, the hero in my upcoming release (tomorrow!) of Cicada, has been interviewed on Alyssa Brooks Slip Between the Sheets site. Find out what an alpha male ghost really thinks...

http://www.alyssabrooks.com/slipbetweenthesheetswith_AftonLocke.html

Her recent release, Taking Tara, also has a trusty piece of rope on the cover and features a heroine who gets to live out her fantasies with a man discovering the alpha side of himself. Sounds like a very tempting read.

Cicada Blurb:

Marian, a science teacher on summer vacation, moves into Jon’s house. He’s been dead for a hundred years but he vows to break the curse on himself and win her heart. He seduces her, entices her and is determined to show her who’s boss with some sexy rope tricks—but he intends to earn her love at the same time.Excerpt:

"What the—" She couldn't see anyone but he was still there. She felt him pressed against her backside and he was harder than ever.

"I'm still here," he said, as if she couldn't figure that out.

Marian's eyes darted around the room as she clutched the pillows. "Then why can't I see you?"

"I'm invisible." He said it as casually as if he'd said he was wearing a blue shirt.

"Invisible," she repeated. "Give me a break. I'm a science teacher. People aren't invisible. That only happens in the movies."

He was still lying on her back and when he shifted she felt coarse cotton fabric against the skin of her legs. He seemed to be wearing pants but they must be invisible too. She also felt the outline of his cock grind against her pussy which was still sensitive from his earlier touching.

"Does that feel real to you?" he asked, close to her ear.

All of her blood seemed to shoot downstream and for one crazy moment she wondered what all that delicious hardness would feel like inside her. Even better than his finger, she imagined. She had to clear her throat just to be able to talk.

"Yes." The word came out as a half sigh and Marian cleared her throat again. "Do you mind explaining to me why you're invisible? I mean, you're seriously freaking me out here. I can see everything in this room except you."

"Of course," he replied as he began to play with her long hair and lazily stroke her back. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Jonathan Blake. You may call me Jon."

"I'm Mar—"

"I know who you are, Mary," he said curtly. "It's about time you came back."

She frowned. "My name is Marian, not Mary and as interesting as this meeting has been, I really need to ask you to leave now. You see, I rented this house for the summer."

He grabbed all of her hair, lifted her head off the pillow with it and nipped her earlobe with his teeth. "This is my house," he corrected.

She pulled her hair out of his hand. His weight eased, so she shifted onto her side and propped herself on her elbow.

"So you're the owner of this house?" she asked. "Good. You just saved me a trip to Seaside Realty to bang some heads together. You have a lot of nerve scamming people out of their rent money, making this place seem haunted. I paid for a private house and a peaceful summer. Instead, I hear all kinds of weird noises, have my clothes stolen and get attacked in my own bed."

"My bed," he corrected.

"Whatever. I'm going to report you to the Better Business Bureau."

Now that her chest was somewhat exposed to him, he was exploring the crocheted lace of her bodice. She pushed his hand away several times but it was hard to hit an invisible, moving target. He chuckled as he traced a finger over the swell of each breast. Her nipples betrayed her by jumping to attention and begging for his touch.

"I don't think they'd pursue a complaint about a man who's been dead for a hundred years."